Bible passages

Sirach 18:15–18

Let gracious words accompany gifts

Sirach teaches that giving is not only about the gift itself. In these sayings, words matter too.

Catholic additional books

Sirach 18:19–29

Prepare, examine yourself, and remember reversals

Sirach 18:19–29 offers short wisdom sayings about acting early rather than late. The passage urges learning, self-examination, repentance, careful promises, and steady awareness that times of ease can quickly give way to need.

Catholic additional books

Sirach 18:30–19:3

Uncontrolled appetite exhausts life and resources

This wisdom passage warns that unchecked desires can damage reputation, judgement, and finances.

Catholic additional books

Sirach 19:4–12

Do not let a rumor demand release

Sirach 19:4–12, from the Catholic additional books, warns against quick trust, delight in wrong, and especially repeating what we hear.

Catholic additional books

Sirach 19:20–30

Wisdom is obedience, not manipulative cleverness

Sirach 19:20–30 contrasts true wisdom with the sort of cleverness that ignores God’s ways.

Catholic additional books

Sirach 20:1–8

Wise correction and silence depend on timing

Sirach 20:1–8 teaches that correction, silence, speech and authority all depend on timing and self-control.

Catholic additional books

Sirach 20:9–17

Apparent gains and foolish gifts may become losses

Sirach 20:9–17 is a short wisdom passage about outcomes that do not match first appearances.

Catholic additional books

Sirach 20:18–26

Careless speech, false shame, and lies bring disgrace

Sirach 20:18–26 gathers sharp sayings about speech, timing, shame, promises, and lies. The passage warns that words can trip a person badly, and it shows how foolish speech and false shame can end in dishonour.

Catholic additional books

Sirach 20:27–32

Use wisdom openly without letting gifts silence judgment

In this wisdom passage from Sirach, a book in the Catholic additional books, short sayings compare speech, work, influence, gifts, and hidden wisdom.

Catholic additional books

Sirach 21:1–10

Flee wrongdoing and heed correction

Sirach 21:1–10 gives wise instruction in short sayings. It urges a person to stop sinning, ask forgiveness, accept reproof and notice where the path of wrongdoing leads.

Catholic additional books

Sirach 21:11–21

Wisdom welcomes the discipline that fools reject

Sirach 21:11–21 contrasts wise and foolish responses to God’s ways. The sayings focus on law, instruction, speech, and self-control, showing that wisdom is recognised by how a person receives correction.

Catholic additional books

Sirach 21:22–28

Prudence restrains intrusion and reckless words

Sirach 21:22–28 gives linked wisdom sayings about respecting other people’s space and guarding our speech.

Catholic additional books

Sirach 22:1–6

Sloth and undisciplined children bring shame

Sirach 22:1–6 uses sharp comparisons to warn about laziness, lack of discipline, shameful behaviour and badly timed speech.

Catholic additional books

Sirach 22:7–15

The unteachable fool is a lasting burden

Sirach 22:7–15 uses blunt comparisons to warn about the fool. In this wisdom passage, the writer is not telling a story but using images to show how foolishness affects teaching, grief, and daily relationships.

Catholic additional books

Sirach 22:16–18

Well-considered counsel steadies the heart

This wisdom passage uses images from building to compare different kinds of hearts. One heart is established on well-advised counsel and thoughtful understanding.

Catholic additional books

Sirach 22:19–26

Preserve friendship through conflict and adversity

Sirach 22:19–26 gives wise sayings about friendship under strain. It shows how words and actions can wound, how some breaks may be repaired, and how loyalty matters when a friend is in hardship.

Catholic additional books

Poetry and prayer

Sirach 22:27–23:6

A prayer to guard speech, thought, and desire

This prayer from Sirach asks God for help with words, thoughts, attitudes, and desires. It shows that harmful speech and inward sins are connected, and it asks for wise restraint before sin grows.

Catholic additional books

Sirach 23:7–15

Discipline the mouth against oaths and abuse

Sirach 23:7–15 teaches that speech needs discipline. This wisdom passage warns that lips can trap a person through insults, oaths, rude speech and abusive habits that become hard to change.

Catholic additional books

Sirach 23:16–28

Secret adultery remains exposed to God

Sirach 23:16–27 warns that sexual sin does not stay hidden. The passage contrasts human secrecy with the Lord’s complete knowledge, then ends by saying the fear of the Lord and obedience to his commandments are better.

Catholic additional books

Sirach 24:1–22

Wisdom tells of her dwelling and invites seekers

In this passage from the Catholic additional book of Sirach, Wisdom speaks for herself. She tells where she comes from, where the Creator placed her, and why those who desire her should come and listen.

Catholic additional books

Sirach 24:23–29

The covenant’s law overflows with inexhaustible wisdom

This passage from Sirach, a Catholic additional book, links God’s covenant law with wisdom, understanding and instruction.

Catholic additional books

Sirach 24:30–34

The teacher’s small channel becomes a river of instruction

This short passage uses water pictures to describe teaching. A small channel becomes something much greater, and the speaker explains that instruction is meant to spread, become clear, and help people who truly seek wisdom.

Catholic additional books

Sirach 25:1–6

Concord and experienced wisdom adorn human life

Sirach 25:1–6 presents a short set of wise sayings about harmony, character and ageing. The passage praises relationships marked by agreement and honours the kind of wisdom that should grow with years.

Catholic additional books

Sirach 25:7–12

Many blessings culminate in reverence for God

This wisdom passage lists kinds of happiness, then rises to something greater. It moves from good gifts in daily life to the highest good, showing that reverence for the Lord stands above every other blessing.